Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-25
DEATH AND BURIAL OF EX-6OV. WIN.
SMITH.

nesday, the 18th inst, at his residence in
Fauquier county, in the Goth year of his
age. In another column, we publish an
interesting sketch of his life and hand
some tribute to his memory.
Soon after o'clock last Friday the Gov
ernor sent the following communication to
both branches of the General Assembly, |
and it was read in each:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, VA, May 20, 1887.
To the Legislature:
The painful duty devolves upon me of
officially communicating to the General As |
sembly the intelligence of the death of Gen |
eral William Smith, Ex-Governor of Vir- |
ginia, who died at his home, in Warrenton,
Fauquier county, Va, on the morning of
the 18Th instant.
His funeral will take place from the Cap |
itol at P. M. this afternoon.
The long public life and eminent public |
services of this distinguished citizen and
soldier have been closely interviewer with
the history of his native State for over half
a century.
AS its honored Chief Executive for two
separate terms, or as representative in
legislative halls, State and national, or up
on the battlefield, he has ever discharged
the duties of his position with great fidelity,
conspicuous courage, and rare ability.
Now, when Fame's trumpet is sounding
everywhere his many virtues, it is eminent
ly proper for the legislative branch of the
government to mark by appropriate action
its respect for the memory of the dead hero.
FITzHUGH LEE.
The House having received from the Gov
ernor message announcing the death of
x-Governor Smith, Mr.. Payne, of Fau-
quier, offered the following resolutions:
Whereas the Governor has communicated
to the General Assembly the melancholy in
telligence of the death of the venerable
William Smith, who during his long public
career served this Commonwealth and his
country with distinguished patriotism, fl
deity, and ability, twice as Governor of
Virginia, many times as a representative in
the Congress of the United States, and as a
member of the two branches of the Gener-
al Assembly of Virginia, and successfully
as colonel of the Forty ninth regiment of
Virginia volunteers, brigadier-general and
major-general of the Confederate States
army in the late war between the States;
and whereas by his death this Common
wealth has lost o citizen whose eminent
services entitle his memory to be rev cred
as one of her most illustrious sons, the
qualities of whose mind and heart were
commensurate with his pre-eminient ability
as public leader soldier, and statesman:
therefore,
| Be 1t resolrea by the House Of Delegates
(the Senate concurring therein), 1, That he
who has passed DEATHS portal full of years
and honors carries with him the love and
reverence of grateful people.
2. That the General Assembly respect
fully tenders its sympathy to his family in
their bereavement.
3. That these resolutions be spread upon
the Journal of each House and be oommu-
nicated to the Governor, with the request
that he impart them to the family of the
deceased.
/! 4. AS further mark of respect that up
on the passage of these resolutions both
houses OF the General Assembly attend his
funeral in body.
Mr.. Payne paid beautiful tribute to the
memory of the deceased. He rapidly re-
viewed his life-hls career in the Legisla-
ture, iE Congress, in the Confederate SEN
ate, as Governor, aad during the war, and
eulogized him in thoughtful ana consider
ate terms.
Mr.. Stribling, also of Fauquier, followed
in eulogy of the deceased, speaking of him
particularly as a soldier, apd making very
good speech indeed.
The resolutions were adopted unanimous
ly by rising vote, and Mr.. Payne was Or
| to &1o tn
In the Senate, about 2 o'clock message
was received from the House by Mr.. Payne,
| who Informed the Senate that the House
had adopted preamble and resolutions in
respect to the memory Of the lsmented ex-
Governor, Ia which the concurrence of the
Senate was asked.
When the subject then under considsra-
ton was disposed of Mr.. Heaton called up
the resolutions. He said that it had been
his purpose to make ONE extended remarks
concerning the death or tiiig distinguished
statesman and leader of men, but t4at the
lateness of the hour would prevent him
from so doing, as it was then after O'Clock,
and he had to go by tie hotel and be at the
depot at $50.
| MIR. Heaton referred very feelingly to his
personal associations, in war and peace,
with this brave and gallant soldier and
noble and pure man, and paid him glow
ing tribute as citizen, as soldier, as re-
preventative in the halls of legislation, az
Governor, and, indeed, in every walk
through stirring life of nearly ninety years.
Mr. Heaton spoke of the battle at Sharps-
burg, where he first met the deceased and
was thrown with him in the battle-lhick, In
which Gen. Smith, after being twice wound
ed on his horse, still persisted in fighting
I! fer the cause which he SO devotedly espous
ed until hs ssesiyed the third wound, to
which he was forced to suecumb. He clos
ed by asking that the Senate by rising yoee
adopt the resolutions, and this was done.
On motion of Mr.. Hurt, the Senate at $50
adjourned as further mark of esteem.
| At quarter after three O'Clock on Friday
afternoon the body OF ex-Gov. Smith reach
ed Richmond.
AS the train rolled int the depot 6 dele
cation of Lee Camp-who composed the
active pall-bearers-=and party of other
conference.-the honorary pall-learers-
took charge Of the easket containing the
dead Ex-Governor, and, placing it in a
hearse, escorted it incarriages to the Capitol
building, in the rotuuda of which the body
lay in state during the afternoon.
The rich and poor, the high and the low
all alike turned out to pay tribute to the
| deceased. Between 4 and O'Clock it is
estimated that about 1000 people viewed
| the remains.
| The handsome casket which held the re-
mains was covered with black cloth with
silver handles and silver trimmings. The
inside was lined with white satin, and
around the face a lot of loose flowers were
clustered.
The body was clothed liz & complete suit
| of black broad cloth Resting ON Efle lower